Dec 8

Dec 8 'Slow streets' for pedestrians, bicyclists coming to Sacramento neighborhoods

Building a sustainable future, Supporting Sacramento's health

The City of Sacramento will temporarily close up to six miles of roadways to through traffic starting this month as part of a “slow streets” pilot initiative. Walkers, runners and people on scooters or bikes will get priority, though people who live on the streets will still be able to drive in and out.

City staff members will work with neighborhoods to determine which low-traffic streets to close. The City will place temporary barriers, signs, cones and A-frame barricades in the streets as part of a six-month pilot project with a budget of $225,000. The money will come from the federal CARES Act and the Department of Public Works budget.

The streets that will be partially closed haven’t been chosen yet; staff members will work with interested communities in the days ahead to pick the ones that will be included in the pilot.

Closing off streets for pedestrian use was one of the short-term recommendations of the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change — a list of immediate steps for 2021. City Council members voted in August to embrace a list of recommendations that are considered critical to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, including the writing of an ordinance requiring new low-rise buildings to run entirely on electricity.

Councilmembers on Tuesday approved a work plan for carrying out the commission’s recommendations for 2021. Jennifer Venema, interim leader of the City’s climate change effort, said carrying out the workplan will require an additional $3.8 million in new spending for three new staff positions— on top of $1.145 million previously approved by Council. It includes $100,000 to research and pursue additional new transportation funding sources to help transition away form gas-powered vehicles.

Specific funding decisions will come back to City Council for approval.

“The planet is demanding that we take on the issue of climate,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

Greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 19 percent in Sacramento since 2005, and the City government had achieved 28 percent decrease in emissions from municipal facilities. But the Climate Commission concluded big, bold steps are necessary to meet the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in and inclusive and equitable way that boosts community prosperity and well being.

Cars and other forms of transportation remain the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Sacramento, and are major focus of the commission’s recommendations.

Slow streets have been embraced by cities on the West Coast as a way to help people get outdoors and get exercise during the Covid-19 pandemic. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland and Berkeley have all launched some form of the program.

Councilmembers stressed Tuesday that any actions the City takes on climate — including slow streets — should be made with a focus on equity for underserved neighborhoods often hurt worst by pollution. The City is launching an Environmental Justice committee that is currently seeking members and will hold a Zoom informational session on Wednesday Dec. 9.